Dubai - Authorities say bank customers are careless while withdrawing cash from ATMs, banks and money exchanges
Published: Sat 6 May 2017, 6:28 PM
Last updated: Sat 6 May 2017, 8:39 PM
Despite intensified efforts made by police to prevent robberies targeting bank clients, the crime is happening frequently in various emirates in the country.
Police departments have blamed victims for the crime saying they are negligent while withdrawing cash from ATMs, banks and money exchanges.
Top officials said that during investigations it has been found that victims were not as careful as they ought to be, especially after carrying out big financial transactions.
Gangs lay these booby traps on victims
Gangs targeting bank clients use crafty methods to carry out their robberies. Police officials have revealed that thieves always invent new tricks and ways to steal and rob bank customers.
First they spread around bank areas and closely watch people who withdraw cash. Then they distract the victim, snatch and flee with the cash.
There are several cases in which the thieves kick their victims to force them drop the case or wallet in their hand or spit on their faces shock them in order to make away with their wallets and cash bags.
Some of them pretend to be sick and when they fall and the victim tries to help, another gang member steals the money in the car. Some also tell victims that their cash fell on ground so when the person looks down, the money is stolen.
In many cases, a gang member knocks at the car window to tell the victim that the car tyre is flat and when the victim gets out of the car, they snatch the bag and disappear with the cash.
Most gangs are from various Asian, Arab and African nationalities, aged between 20 and 45. They usually carry out their robberies during the banks' working hours and during the day time when people approach ATMs and money exchange.
They also target workers who receive their salary at the end and beginning of each month.
According to investigations, it was found that gang members distribute tasks among them based on a plan to carry out their robberies. The gang normally consists of more than three members including the deceiver, the main thief and the spotter who keeps watch as well as the driver who will be sitting in the waiting car waiting for signal to announce completion of the operation to quickly pick up the group and disappeared from the crime scene. The 'deceiver' knocks on the vehicle's window, while the thief opens the vehicle's door and snatches the money in response to the deceiver.
|
Police have intensified awareness campaigns to educate banking clients on ways to protect their money and on following precautionary measures. They have deployed police patrols near banks areas and arrested large number of gang members of various nationalities who involved in such robberies.
In Dubai, Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief for criminal investigation, said that theft crimes in general have dropped in Dubai and unresolved theft crimes dropped from 460 to 332 last year, including robberies targeting bank clients.
Dubai Police have also developed sophisticated cameras to monitor such robberies. He added that the crime prevention section at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) implements security to prevent the crime before it occurs.
"The police frequently receive reports of bank clients who have been followed by thieves who take advantage of the opportunity to booby-trap them and steal their money without them being aware of it," said Al Mansouri.
Al Mansouri said that many thieves were arrested by undercover police officers while in action. The police advice companies to ensure that their agents will take responsibility.
"They are not supposed to allow them to go around with the money they withdraw or to talk to strangers or count money in front of them or to leave them in the car and get off somewhere, or to stop if anyone asking them to do so."
"They must withdraw money and go directly to the place where they are supposed to deposit," he added.
Despite the fact that there is a drop in the number of theft cases reported, bank customers still remain at risk. Negligence or a small mistake after withdrawing money could encourage thieves to strike and steal their money. "Most of the victims also fail to describe the thief because of the speed in which the thefts are committed," he said.
In Sharjah, Ibrahim Al Ajill director of CID at Sharjah Police, said a campaign named 'Be Cautious' was launched in the beginning of this year and it educates clients not to leave cash in the car and also to look around to check for suspicious movement of people.
The Sharjah Police have arrested nearly 100 gang members during the first quarter this year and the crime rate has been reduced by 7.24 per cent, which recorded 261 crimes including thefts and robberies.
He urged victims to inform police when exposed to any such crimes for quick response. The public can call on 800151 or send an SMS to 7999.
Col Abdullah Saif Al Matorushi, deputy director of operation room in Ajman, said that in a campaign the police advised bank clients to remain cautious and not to respond to strangers who knock at the car windows or spit on their faces.
"When a complaint is received at operation room, the CID carries out comprehensive investigation," said Al Matroushi.
He added that the Ajman Police arrest gang members involved in the ATM robberies within 24 to 48 hours of committing crimes and so no cases remain unresolved in the emirate.
Victims speak of their negligence
An Egyptian national Mohammed Zaglool told Khaleej Times that he had gone to Ras Al Khaimah Bank near Khan Sahib in Sharjah and when he withdrew money he was tricked by a man who robbed his cash. Police arrested one while his accomplice still at large.
Mohammed explained that he works as an accountant and he did all financial transactions for his company. Last May he went to the bank and withdrew Dh30,000 and was heading towards his car when suddenly heard an explosion.
When he got closer to his car, a man told him that there is oil under the right tyre of his car. "I placed my bag, cheque books, two mobiles and the envelope that contained the money on the back seat," he said.
"I started to check the tyre and bent under the car. When I got up, I discovered that the cheques and other things were thrown on the ground and the money envelop was stolen," he said.
He also said that he checked around but the man had vanished. He later lodged complaint with Sharjah Police.
After his incident, he learnt that in the same area and on the same day around 10:30am, the thieves had stolen Dh82,000 from another victim.
He said that he paid so much for his negligence. "I am still paying Dh2,000 installments from my salary every month."
One of the victims who was attacked by six Afghans, who are currently standing trial in Sharjah court for committing a series of robberies targeting bank clients, said that the culprit asked him to come out of his car to talk him but when he got out, another Afghan snatch the cash and vanished.
An Asian woman who didn't want to reveal her name said that she had helped the Dubai Police in the arrest of thieves who planned to target a bank customer when she saw them whispering to each other and roaming around suspiciously.
Basama, an Arab woman from Ajman, said that she withdrew 50,000 from a bank at the Khalifa Road. When she reached her car she threw her handbag on the front passenger driver when an African approached her and asked her about some location.
"While I was trying to give directions, another one opened the front door of passenger seat and snatched the bag and vanished."
The Ajman Police arrested the thieves in less than 24 hours and returned her money.
afkar@khaleejtimes.com &amira@khaleejtimes.com
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
